Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (center, black dress, cap) joined cricket players and supporters at the opening of two new athletic fields in Dorchester at Harambee Park.
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu tried her hand at cricket during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday for two new athletic fields at Harambee Park (formerly Franklin Field) in Dorchester.
"This was my first ever time touching a cricket bat, but it was fun," Wu said.
Conway Cricket Club President Donovan Blake showed Wu how to play.
While the sport shares some similarities to baseball, there are distinct differences, like the shape of the bats (a cricket bat is flat, while a baseball bat is rounded).
"In cricket, you can hit the ball in a 360 arc," Blake said. "There's no gloves as in baseball."
The fields are part of a fourth phase of renovations at Harambee Park, and join a new basketball court and football field.
"This is another way to build community and I'm really proud and glad that we got here," Wu said.
Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world, with soccer first.
Cricket is surging in popularity in Boston with growing engagement at the youth level.
Kevin Fagan of the Caricom Cricket Club in Boston was at Thursday's event, and said he hopes to see the day cricket is included in the curriculum of Boston Public Schools.
"I want to see it in both elementary and middle schools, in high schools, and moving on to colleges," he said.
WBZ NewsRadio's Jay Willett (@JayWillettWBZ) reports.